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43-504: It is the main prison for military prisoners in Israel (the secondary being Prison Six ) and can contain approximately 600 prisoners. It is the only prison for Israeli soldiers during an emergency. Prison Four accepts all prisoners except officers, senior NCOs, some military policemen and soldiers who serve in the Northern Command . These go to Prison Six. Prison Four was founded soon after

86-529: A State Department panel investigated and found sustained human rights violation by members of the battalion. Israeli leaders including Benjamin Netanyahu , Yoav Gallant , and Benny Gantz criticized these sanction plans on the grounds that the Israeli justice system independently and adequately responded to the reported human rights violations. Israeli Labor Party leader Merav Michaeli called for dismantling

129-546: A rebellion in Company Gimel, where several prisoners, led by Gideon Martin, a Russian immigrant (born in Sierra Leone) convicted of rape and illegal drug use, took control of the company's dining room and captured several jail instructors and sergeants. After negotiations, an agreement was reached between the prisoners and the chief military police officer ( kamtzar ) to release the hostages in exchange for better conditions for

172-590: A bursts around him to scare the Egyptians. One bullet ricocheted and wounded an Egyptian prisoner. The others promptly surrendered and the injured prisoner died from his wounds. While the Chief of Staff David Elazar , who arrived at the scene, praised Rosenfeld for his actions, an investigating committee found that he used his weapon illegally. As a result, Megiddo Prison was founded in 1974 to hold certain prisoners of war, as well as problematic Israeli military prisoners. At

215-606: A half-dozen controversial cases involving its soldiers, resulting in jail time, discharge, or harsh criticism for assaulting or killing innocent Palestinians. In December 2022, Netzah Yehuda was removed by the IDF from its traditional posting in the West Bank to a border posting in the Golan Heights where the unit would be less exposed to Palestinians. The battalion was founded in 1999, and originally contained only 30 soldiers. As of 2009,

258-399: A means to have all the prisoners give up their TVs, meanwhile planning a riot. They began fortifying their cells and damaging the weak ceilings. After this became clear to the jailors, an intervention team was formed, although Col. Rosenfeld did not wish to have a violent clash which would endanger either Egyptian or Israeli lives. Rosenfeld personally climbed the roof of the cellblock and fired

301-590: A morning roll call and were later confirmed to be escapees. After the initial investigation, the commander of the Manpower Directorate , Aluf Shlomo Lahat , ordered a revocation of all special privileges to POWs held in Prison Four. The deputy Chief Military Police Officer, Colonel Meir Rosenfeld, was responsible for the task, and as a first step informed a cell of Egyptians that their television sets would be removed. The Egyptians asked for two hours to formulate

344-453: A national POW camp ( Hebrew : מחנה שבויים ארצי mahane shvu'im artzi ) for enemy officers and other quality POWs. Israeli prisoners are either released or transferred to Prison Four. Prison Six was conceptualized by an officer named Yaakov Markovich, after an analysis of Prison Four's deteriorating conditions (which would improve if the overcapacity was alleviated). Chief Military Police Officer Yosef Pressman pushed for its construction and it

387-671: A phrase taken from the Torah describing the importance of keeping a Jewish military camp free of sin or ritually unclean objects in exchange for divine assistance in battle. As the battalion places great emphasis on accommodating the religious needs of the soldiers, the Netzah Yehuda bases follow the most rigorous standards of Jewish dietary laws , and the only women permitted on these bases are wives of soldiers and officers, so that there would not be any interaction considered inappropriate according to Jewish religious law between men and women. As

430-555: A result of 18 months of discussions between a group of Haredi educators, led by Rabbi Yitzhak Bar-Chaim from Netzah Yehuda organization and the IDF, with just 30 soldiers in total. The battalion had its first casualty on August 19, 2006, when a member of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades shot and killed Staff Sergeant Roi Farjoun of Yehud at the Beka'ot Checkpoint east of Nablus . A nearby Netzah Yehuda soldier then opened fire, and killed

473-592: Is a battalion in the Kfir Brigade of the Israel Defense Forces . The purpose of the unit is to allow Haredi Jewish men to serve as combat soldiers in the Israeli military by creating an atmosphere conducive to their religious convictions in the strict observance of Halakha . The battalion has been accused of human rights violations against Palestinians, including killing unarmed civilians, killing suspects in custody, sexual assault and torture. Despite

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516-468: Is an Israeli military prison located near Atlit , Israel , on Oren Junction. It is the second military prison for IDF soldiers, after Prison Four in Tzrifin (Camp Yadin ). Prison Six can contain about 350 prisoners. Prison Six generally contains prisoners from the Northern Command , as well as officers and senior NCOs. During an emergency, the 393rd Battalion takes over Prison Six and converts it into

559-404: Is not officially a punishment. A guard from Company Alef is placed inside each cell to guard the dangerous prisoner and prevent suicides, etc. Full solitary ( tzinok ) cells are used to punish prisoners and any lieutenant or higher in the prison may sentence any prisoner to 24 hours there (up to 1 week for higher-ranking officers). Company Dalet (ד) is an open company and the least strict of any of

602-506: Is the largest company, containing up to 180 prisoners, and its commander is a major instead of a captain. Company Gimel contains the isolation/solitary confinement wing ( Hebrew : אגף הבודדים agaf habodedim ), which has 21 cells and 2 full solitary ( Hebrew : צינוק tzinok ) cells. The regular cells are for separation of prisoners and prevention of harm only - i.e., prisoners are put there if they pose an obvious danger to their surroundings, or are involved in feuds with other prisoners. This

645-539: The 1948 Arab-Israeli War and absorbed prisoners from a provisional jail previously set up in northern Tel Aviv ( al-Shaykh Muwannis ). It suffered neglect and overcrowding from the onset, and in 1949 a commission of inquiry was ordered by the IDF Chief of Staff , led by Aluf Moshe Zadok and Aluf David Shaltiel . Prison Six was eventually founded as a result of Prison Four's extreme overcrowding. Ever since, Prison Four has gradually undergone major changes. The prison

688-559: The Jordan Valley , and then the areas surrounding Jenin , Tulkarm , and Ramallah since the early 2000s, as all other units are frequently rotated between different areas. The US State Department asked its embassy in Israel to produce a report on the battalion following allegations of abuse of Palestinians and the battalion involvement in the death of a 78-year-old Palestinian-American Omar Assad in January 2022. Following this incident

731-582: The Golan Heights. The various battalion positions operated, as before, under the arrangements of Haredi practice. Starting from October 7, 2023, in the wake of the Hamas-led attack , soldiers of the Netzah Yehuda battalion participated in the defense of the Gaza border communities and the ensuing Gaza war. They have taken part in combat in the areas of Khan Yunis, Beit Hanoun, Jabalia, and other various locations around

774-624: The Haredi soldiers' exposure to women. Soldiers in Company Dalet have a lot of free time during the day, and have access to television and a DVD player (in Prison Six this includes satellite TV as well). Apart from the much lighter overall atmosphere, another difference between Dalet and the other companies is that they eat with a full set of silverware. This, in contrast to the other companies' soldiers who only receive spoons at meals. In 2007, because of

817-526: The Israeli military said it would temporarily move the unit from the West Bank to the Golan Heights. The IDF said the decision "was made out of a desire to diversify their operational deployment in multiple areas, in addition to accumulating more operational experience" and was unrelated to the death of As'ad. In late December 2022, the unit was transferred from the IDF Central Command to the Northern Command in preparation for an 11-month deployment in

860-550: The Netzah Yehuda Battalion, are seen as models for the possible future incorporation of Haredi conscripts into the IDF, should the present draft exemption for the ultra-Orthodox community be lifted. The ban was lifted by a ruling of the Israel's supreme court in 2024. Among the men who have served in the unit is Sergeant Almog Shiloni . The battalion's motto is "V'haya Machanecha Kadosh", "And Your [military] camp shall be holy", ( Devarim 23:15 = Deuteronomy 23:14 ),

903-418: The attacker. Soldiers from the battalion have been accused of a series of abuses. In 2015 a combat soldier from Battalion was jailed for 9 months under aggravated circumstances, after he was convicted of having electrocuted Palestinian suspects on two separate occasions, including arresting a Palestinian suspect near the West Bank city of Jenin, blindfolding, handcuffing, beating and the attaching electrodes to

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946-463: The battalion arrested Omar Assad, a 78-year old Palestinian American man. According to his autopsy[citation needed], Assad was beaten, leading to a heart attack. The soldiers responsible were not prosecuted, but the battalion was redeployed away from the West Bank. Until early December 2022, Netzah Yehuda was the only unit in the IDF which had been continuously stationed in the West Bank , initially in

989-585: The battalion had grown to over 1,000 soldiers, and has reached the status of a fully functioning battalion. The battalion recently marked its 20th draft. The battalion runs like other combat units in the IDF, with five months of basic training, followed by an additional six months of advanced training. Today, at any given time, the battalion holds close to 1,000 soldiers, including two full companies in training, one company commencing active service, and two operation units: Palchod (Recon/ First Company) and Mesaiat (Rifleman Company). A third operational unit, Mivtzayit,

1032-414: The battalion on suspicion of beating and sexually assaulting a Palestinian suspect, after a military doctor examined him as part of the arrest procedure and found signs of violence on his body, leading to the investigation. The Palestinian detainee was held by troops in the back of a military vehicle after his arrest in the West Bank, and was allegedly beaten en-route to an army base. In 2022, soldiers from

1075-408: The battalion runs on a voluntary basis and does not draft soldiers, it is one of the few units in the IDF which depends on community recruitment mechanisms for new intakes. It actively recruits soldiers from ultra-Orthodox or Haredi , Religious Zionist or Dati Leumi , and the in-between Chardal families; there are also volunteers from overseas. Founded in 1999, the battalion started off as

1118-467: The creation of the battalion, particularly Rabbi Aharon Shteinman , who disowned the unit entirely. Since the unit's creation, it has attracted many members of an extreme Dati Leumi settler group called the Hilltop Youth who are infamous for establishing illegal outposts on Palestinian land that have no legal basis in Israeli law. In recent years, the Netzah Yehuda battalion has experienced at least

1161-407: The freed prisoners were given tools to scale the cellblocks and destroy their roofs, so that trapped prisoners could be rescued from above. The prisoners of the three last cells, which were impossible to reach, were able to also receive tools, and destroyed the cell walls from within. The electricity was disconnected in fear of electrocution, and the rest of the work was done in the darkness. None of

1204-402: The head of Prison Four stands a lieutenant-colonel, with a major as vice-commander. There are six companies in Prison Four and several other assisting sub-units: Company Gimel (ג) is a closed company for detainees awaiting trial, new prisoners, and some serving medium sentences. It consists of four regular platoons and a fifth absorption platoon, where new prisoners are accepted and sorted. Gimel

1247-757: The high command of the Military Police Corps to rethink their approach to the prison system and install new safeguards. After the Six-Day War , high-status Arab prisoners of war were kept in regular Israeli military prisons, including Prison Four. They were given excellent living conditions, including television, more access to possessions, and trips to the outside, in order to ensure that the Israeli POWs held in Egypt and Syria would get similar treatment. On April 16, 1972, three Syrian prisoners were found missing in

1290-423: The hostages is severely wounded and Gideon Martin, the leader of the rebellion, agrees to release him. The hostage is taken out through the infirmary gate and sheds light on the current situation in the company after questioning. The rebellion was then dispersed through negotiations. Aluf Gabi Ashkenazi commanded the forces that were to disperse the revolt by force, if necessary. During the revolt, an emergency

1333-479: The man’s neck and electrocuting him. Four other soldiers involved in similar incidents were also indicted. In 2016, a military court sentenced an Israeli soldier from the Battalion to seven months in jail for allegedly beating detained Palestinians, arising when he beat Palestinians while they were under arrest at the battalion’s base several months prior. In 2021, Israeli Military Police arrested four soldiers from

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1376-591: The military prisons, as well as in conditions for both jail instructors and prisoners. Intelligence gatherers also gained prestige and more were recruited. Following the rebellion, the Ashhal Commission was formed to investigate the incident, and the Dekel Commission was appointed by the General Staff to recommend a policy for the prison section in the IDF. The commander on duty verifies the reports, calls

1419-582: The original purpose of the battalion being to accommodate Haredim who wish to serve in the military, the majority of the unit (60%) is drawn from Dati Leumi (Religious Zionist) community, specifically those apart of the Hardal sub-group. Though the Hardalim and Haredim share some similarities, the two remain distinct communities, and are both halakhic and ideological opposites on many important issues, most importantly Zionism . Many Haredi leaders publicly denounced

1462-478: The other companies. While technically intended for reservists, there are two other classes of soldiers who may serve their sentences there. Soldiers aged 22 and above may request placement in Company Dalet, as may soldiers serving in the Nahal Haredi , a battalion made up of Haredi soldiers. The reason for the latter group of soldiers is that women do not serve as jail instructors in Company Dalet, thereby minimizing

1505-437: The prison's immediate response squad and arms them with the necessary equipment. Cells in the entire prison are closed and the commander declares an emergency. All other free jailors in Prison Six reinforce the response team. Reinforcements are also called from the military police headquarters, and all soldiers belonging to Prison Six are rousted and summoned to base. The commander on duty finds out through negotiation that one of

1548-570: The prisoners used the flood as a means to escape, and instead helped in the effort to minimize the damage and prevent injury. As a result, the Aluf of the Manpower Directorate , which is responsible for the Military Police Corps including its prisons, decided to release dozens of prisoners and cancel their sentences. Six soldiers were decorated for their actions during their flood, three of them MPs. On Saturday, August 9, 1997, Prison Six suffered

1591-402: The prisoners. The agreement was immediately revoked and the prisoners received greater sentences and were transferred to a civilian prison. The rebellion was predicted by the intelligence gatherers of the prison, but the command did not heed the warning. The rebellion completely changed the military police's approach to its prison service sector and changes were made in the physical structures of

1634-513: The shortage of space for prisoners in both prisons, Company Dalet also began accepting regular prisoners with short sentences and good records. However, Dalet's status is still of a small company, and its commander is a lieutenant instead of a captain. 31°57′34″N 34°49′42″E  /  31.9594°N 34.8282°E  / 31.9594; 34.8282 Prison Six Prison Six ( Hebrew : כלא שש Kele Shesh ), officially Confinement Base 396 ( Hebrew : בסיס כליאה 396 Bsis Kli'a 396 )

1677-580: The strip. An investigation by CNN in July 2024 found members of Netzah Yehuda were training Israeli ground troops and running Gaza operations. In April 2024, Axios reported that the US government plans to sanction the unit under the Leahy Law for human rights violations in the West Bank. The ban will prevent the battalion or any members of the battalion from receiving US aid or military training after an investigation by

1720-527: Was created in October 2009, due to the large number of soldiers joining the battalion in the most recent drafts. In the past, there was a small special forces platoon (Machsar) composed of soldiers from the battalion, but this was disbanded shortly after Lt. Colonel Dror Shpigel became commander of the battalion. A volunteer all-Haredi computer unit has also been created within the Israeli Air Force . This, and

1763-580: Was declared throughout the entire army and nearby units sent reinforcements to aid in the event. Military police reinforcements: Others military reinforcements: Civilian reinforcements: Prison Six comprises four main companies, and two assisting companies: 32°42′49″N 34°58′06″E  /  32.71361°N 34.96833°E  / 32.71361; 34.96833 Netzah Yehuda Battalion The 97th Netzah Yehuda Battalion ( Hebrew : גדוד נצח יהודה , transl.  'Judah's Victory Battalion' ), previously known as Nahal Haredi ( הנחל החרדי )

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1806-434: Was finally built following the 1956 Sinai War . On November 22, 1969 at about 21:00, Prison Six was flooded due to a powerful rainstorm, and the water level rose to a level of 2 m. The prison's security was compromised when the powerful water current destroyed the front gate and created holes in the outer walls. An attempt was made to open the cells, although due to the flow, this was impossible in many cases. Instead, some of

1849-466: Was the first to experiment with new ideas in the prison sector, such as the operation of security cameras in key locations, as well as a rehabilitation program called Gahelet ( lit. factors for returning to proper service) in 2000. In 2006, prisoners' valuables were stolen from the prison's safe, and in January 2008 a prisoner died for the first time in the history of the jail, although the exact circumstances of his death remain unclear. Both events caused

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